Updating both the parts here also in case some people are new and they haven't already read the part on "What if?"
I was re-watching some Meerasim moments and came across this. I couldn't help but wonder if a spark had existed between the two of them in their teen years which ended because of their pride or maybe because of Haya.
"Sirf tumhari waja se chup hun"
(I'm only quiet because of you.)
I'm unable to insert the video here but you can look at the whole scene on my Instagram @fwrites3247
I wrote this with the thought of Meerab already knowing about Murtasim's passion for photography and his dreams.
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"Yar iss bar hum tumhari birthday wale din hi party rakhengy." Saba declared to Meerab folding her hands over her chest.
(This year we'll give you a party right on your Birthday.)
Inaya nodded in agreement. "Bilkul theek keh rahi hai Saba. Always we have to keep your party a few days early or late because tumhe Hyderabad jana hota hai."
(Saba is right. Always we have to keep your party a few days early or late because you have to celebrate at Hyderabad.)
"Mei kya karu meri majboori hai. It's not like mei apni khushi se jati hu waha." Meerab replied helplessly.
(What can I do? It's not like I go there on my will.)
"Of course ab tumhari khushi kese hogi waha. Murtasim bhai ne jo ap ki birthdays attend karna chorr di hain." Saba teased her friend.
(Of course, why would you go there willingly, now that Murtasim no longer attends your Birthdays)
"Chup kar jao Saba. He stays busy ever since Taya jan passed away."
(Shut up Saba. He stays busy ever since Uncle passed away.)
"I think it's a one sided matter Meerab. Warna itna busy koi nahi hota ke ek chote se event ke liye time na nikal sakay." Inaya tried to make Meerab see the reality.
(I think it's a one sided matter Meerab. Otherwise no one is that busy these days that they can't attend even a small event.)
"Han aur issi liye iss bar tum Hyderabad nahi ja rahi. We're giving you a party right on your birthday. No excuses." Saba made her final decision.
(Exactly. That's why this time you aren't going to Hyderabad. We're giving you a party right on your birthday. No excuses.)
"What if he decides to be there this time?" Meerab suggested hopefully.
"Rehne do Meerab. Last year bhi tum ne yehi bola tha. I don't think he cares anymore. I think he has moved on from you." Inaya was also taking Saba's side.
(Let it be Meerab. You said that last year too. I don't think he cares anymore. I think he has moved on from you.)
"Okay fine. Let me talk to Baba then." Meerab said giving in even though the reality that her friends were painting for her hurt her.
---
Meerab paced in the living room, trying to form her words to talk to Baba. He wasn't back from court yet and her nerves weren't helping to stay calm. She knew how much important the people in Hyderabad were to her Baba. If she refused to go there this year, Baba might get offended or hurt. Yet she couldn't dismiss her friends' requests either. Maybe Baba would help her come to a compromise. Baba always had a solution to every problem.
Her thoughts then shifted to Murtasim. She hadn't seen him since Taya Jan passed away a little more than two years ago. Even though she hated it when he teased her, she found herself missing their banters. She wondered if he still got time to pursue his passion for photography or he stayed too busy with feudal affairs. She remembered how he had started taking her pictures on her birthdays at Hyderabad as soon as he had learnt to use the camera. Murtasim seemed to be the only sane person at the Khan Mansion to Meerab. The rest of them seemed to be tied up by their family values and traditions, something that Meerab absolutely hated.
Meerab was well aware that Murtasim had no interest in the feudal system. She couldn't help but think if he was still the same Murtasim or if the weight of his responsibilities had turned him into Taya Jan. She shook her head in disbelief. Murtasim could never become a serious man who seldom smiled and just spouted orders to everyone. She didn't dislike her Taya Jan but she didn't like him either. Just the mere thought of Murtasim becoming like his father made her feel uncomfortable.
Just then the door bell rang and Meerab rushed to open the door to find her Baba. He looked tired, that must mean he'd had a tough day at court. She needed to let him rest for the time being before asking him about her birthday party.
---
"Baba I'm no longer a teenager, I'm almost 20, I have a right to celebrate my birthday with my friends." Meerab stated firmly.
"I know baba ki jan lekin waha Bhabhi Begum aur Anwar special arrangements karte hain sirf tumhare liye."
(I know love but Anwar and Bhabhi (sister-in-law) make special arrangements for your birthday every year.)
"Wo log mere tou koi nahi lagte phir itna sab karne ki kya zaroorat hai?" Meerab argued back.
(They're not related to me in any sense then why do they put in so much effort for me?)
"Beta Bhabhi Begum aur Anwar tumhe apni beti samjhte hain, bilkul Marium aur Haya ki tarah." Waqas tried to reason.
(Bhabhi and Anwar treat you like their own daughter just like Marium and Haya.)
"Marium tou tayi jan ki apni beti hai aur Haya un ki behn ki beti, humara tou koi rishta nahi jurrta un se. Mei Hyderabad jane se mana nahi kar rahi Baba. It's just that I want to celebrate one birthday with my college friends."
(Marium is their own daughter while Haya is their neice. We don't have any relationship with them. I'm not saying that we shouldn't go to Hyderabad. It's just that I want to celebrate one birthday with my college friends.)
"Acha theek hai beta, how about we make a small compromise?"
(Okay dear. How about we make a shall compromise?)
"Kesa compromise?"
(What kind of compromise?)
"Ap apni friends ke sath birthday lunch kar len phir hum sham me Hyderabad chalengy. Theek hai beta?"
(You can celebrate your birthday with friends over lunch and we can head to Hyderabad after that. Is that good?)
"That's great Baba. You're the best Baba in the whole world." Meerab rushed to hug him. She knew her Baba would find the middle ground somewhere and he did.
After having a birthday lunch with her friends, Meerab headed home then they left for Hyderabad.
Tayi Jan (Salma Begum), Baray Abu (Anwar), Haya, Marium everyone was there. Her eyes searched for Murtasim but he was nowhere to be seen. Saba and Inaya must be right. He no longer cared.
Waqas also noticed that Murtasim was missing so he asked Salma Begum about his whereabouts.
"Bhabhi Murtasim nazar nahi aa raha."
(Bhabhi, where is Murtasim?)
"Han Waqas aksar gao hi hota hai wo. Mazrat kar raha tha ke event attend nahi kar sakega. Sari arrangements bhi ussi ne ki hain halan ke."
(He usually stays at the village these days. He has already apologised that he wouldn't be present for the event even though he did all the arrangements.)
Meerab's heart skipped a beat. So he had cared enough to arrange her birthday party. At least he hadn't forgotten her.
After the cake cutting, everybody sat down for dinner. The dinner was quite a cheerful one as the whole family had gathered together after a long time. Only one person was missing and that was Murtasim.
"Waqas Murtasim ayega tou tum uss ko zara samjhana. Meri aur Anwar ki tou bilkul nahi sunta hai. Sara waqt kam karta rehta hai, na kahi aana jana hai na koi dost na koi ghoomna phirna. Jese mere bache ne tou jeena hi chorr dya hai." Salma Begum seemed worried about her son's colourless life.
(Waqas when Murtasim arrives please make him understand that there's a life outside of work as well. He doesn't listen to me nor Anwar these days. He's turning into a workaholic without any life of his own, no friends, no social gatherings and no leisure activities. It's as if he has stopped living.)
"Bhabhi Begum ap Murtasim ki shadi karden. Uss ki biwi ayegi tou bilkul theek hojayega." Waqas suggested and Salma Begum smiled at the thought.
(Bhabhi you should get Murtasim married. His wife would fill his life with colours again.)
"Irada tou mera yehi hai. Ek khandan ki larki pe nazar bhi hai meri. Bas sahi waqt ka intezar kar rahi hu." Maa Begum said her gaze on the three girls sitting together at the other end of the table.
(Yes I am also thinking along the same lines. I've also chosen a girl of the family. I'm just waiting for the right time to arrive.)
After the dinner was over, the three girls were gathered in Marium's room for some girl time.
Haya seemed extremely happy and excited. "Marium tum ne suna Maa Begum kya keh rahi thi."
(Marium did you hear what Maa Begum said?)
"Han Haya suna mei ne. Lekin zaroori tou nahi na ke wo tumhari bat kar rahi hon."
(Yes Haya but it isn't necessary that she was talking about you.)
"Khandan me koi aur larki hai kya? Aur phir wo meri taraf hi dekh rahi thi."
(There's no other girl in the family apart from me. And her eyes were also on me so who else could it be?)
"Chalo bhaee man lete hain. Hojao tum khush." Marium said giving her a gentle push while Haya giggled.
(Okay fine. Be happy now.)
"Meerab tum bohat chup ho sab kheryat hai?" Marium asked Meerab who was quiet.
(Meerab is everything okay? You seem to be very quiet.)
"Han bas safar ki thakan hai. Tum log baatein karo mei sone chali." Meerab replied and retired to her room.
(Yes I'm just tired from travelling. You girls carry on, I'll go and rest.)
Contrary to what she had just said to Marium, sleep was the last thing that was on Meerab's mind. So it was Haya that had come between them. Of course it was, she was the ideal wife for a feudal lord, submissive and obedient. Whereas, Meerab was the exact opposite, stubborn and headstrong. But she couldn't help think about her and Murtasim's bond. Surely there had been more than friendship from his side too. Her brain told her to not assume things before clearing it up with Murtasim.
Meerab stood by the window of her bedroom that overlooked the garden of the Khan Mansion. She was lost in her thoughts when she noticed a familiar figure roaming around in the garden. "Murtasim." She whispered to herself.
Meerab's pride wasn't allowing her to go see him but she swallowed it down and headed downstairs. They needed to sort it out sooner or later.
Determined to confront him, she approached him cautiously, her heart pounding with anticipation.
The eerie silence in the garden was broken by Meerab's voice. "Murtasim", she called him from behind.
"Happy Birthday", was his only reply. The words sounded empty of every emotion and expression and he didn't even turn around to look at her.
To say Meerab was hurt would be an understatement. She mustered all her courage to utter those four words, "we need to talk", her voice laced with a mix of determination and vulnerability.
Murtasim turned to face her, his expression guarded. "What is there left to say, Meerab? We've drifted apart, and there's no going back."
Tears welled up in Meerab's eyes as she fought to maintain her composure. "Why? What happened to us? We used to be so close, and now it feels like we're strangers."
Murtasim's voice carried a bitter edge. "The truth is, Meerab, I've come to realize that our friendship was a mistake. I should have never let myself get entangled in this emotional mess."
Meerab felt her heart shatter at his harsh words. "But I thought we had something special, something more than just friendship. Was it all a lie?"
Murtasim's eyes hardened as he stared at her. "It was a mistake, Meerab. I let myself be swayed by your charm and our shared past, but I've come to my senses now. Our lives are headed in different directions, and it's best if we go our separate ways."
Meerab struggled to hold back her tears, a mix of hurt and anger bubbling within her. "Is this because of Haya? Are you pushing me away because of her?"
A flicker of guilt crossed Murtasim's face before he masked it with cold indifference. "Yes but even if Haya had nothing to do with this I would still say the same thing to you. This is about me realizing the futility of our connection. We're from different worlds, Meerab, and it's time we accepted that."
"Who are you and what did you do to Murtasim?" Meerab was shaking all over, her anger overtaking her grief.
"I'm no longer the carefree Murtasim you knew. I have responsibilities and I can not waste my time with you." Murtasim's voice was cold as stone.
With a heavy heart, Meerab turned away, her voice quivering with suppressed emotion. "Fine, Murtasim. If that's what you truly believe, then let this be the end of us. I don't want anything to do with you anymore. And don't think that I'm Haya jo tumhare 2 pyar ke alfaz se dubara pighal jaongi mei. Ab tou mei tumhari shakal bhi dekhna pasand nahi karungi. Khush raho apni Haya ke sath." Meerab spat at the ground in front of him unable to control her anger before she headed to her room, making a mental note to never talk with Murtasim again.
(And don't you dare think that you can sway me by your charm, I'm not Haya who would loose all her self-respect just for two words of affection from you. I don't even want to see you after today. Stay happy with your Haya.)
Their confrontation left a deep chasm between them, and the once-cherished bond they shared dissolved into a mix of resentment and animosity. Meerab, unable to bear the pain, distanced herself from Murtasim and focused on her career and her goals unaware that one day they would be united in the form of husband and wife against their wills.
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